I just wanted to take a moment to thank reader Tim, who sent me a beautiful Oxford 50th Anniversary Edition Revised Standard Version w/Apocrypha. It really is a lovely reading Bible, due to its clear, readable print and overall size. Too bad that it appears to be out of print.
To whom does one confess Bible envy.
ReplyDeleteBrad
What a beautiful Bible, Tim! Would you mind sharing here in the comments what is the ISBN of the edition you received? I'm in the market for a full RSV (i.e., one that includes all the books of the Orthodox canon) that is not the NOAB, and this one beautifully fits the bill, so I'd like to look around for it. :-)
ReplyDeleteEsteban,
ReplyDeleteMy version's ISBN: 0195288114.
I have the imitation leather edition, but there is a genuine leather one out there.
I should also mention that it is basically a readers edition. There are, if course, Oxford Maps at the back along with a list of OT kings, a postexillic era chronology, Roman rulers chart, parables and miracles chart, and a list of post-resurrection appearances included between the OT and NT.
ReplyDeleteAwww shucks! You are very welcome Tim. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who are interested in finding one of these; I see them pop up on eBay and Amazon.com from time to time. I have found 3 of them that way. Just look for the one with the purple box.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteThank you again! I must say, having never seen this edition before, that it is simply beautiful. Yeah, it doesn't have all the 'bells and whistles' so to speak, but it is a truly wonderful reading Bible. The print is very clear and the size is, for me, perfect.
Thank you, Tim! Yes, text only without all the bells and whistles is exactly what I'm looking for. I love the Oxford text editions, and frankly, when I'm not reading the RSC-2CE (which is the divinely ordained English version of choice in this house), I'm usually reading the Oxford NRSV text-only edition, which has the most eye-pleasing layout ever to have been printed. It would be nice to have something similar in the old RSV!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks to Tim B. for the leads and tips. :-)
Esteban -- the Oxford NRSV may be eye-pleasing, but surely it can hardly compare with a first rate illuminated Bible.
ReplyDeleteThe six-color Turner edition and the Saint John's Bible are far more eye-pleasing editions of the NRSV. As far as I am concerned -- bring on the bells and whistles -- especially when they are Renaissance masterworks or brilliant pieces of modern art.
(The Salvador Dali edition of the Jerusalem Bible is also worth mentioning, although unlike the above Bibles which contain illustrations on every page, it only has a few color plates.)
If one is willing to consider other translations (especially the KJV and Geneva Bible) or other languages (I've seen spectacular versions in Hebrew, French, and German) there are a wonderful range of options of illuminated Bibles to choose among. There are so many that I can hardly mention them all. OK, I'll mention a few. The 1534 Luther Bible is simply stunning. And when it comes to soulful calligraphy, it is hard to surpass the Leningrad Codex Facsimile.
And in case you are wondering, yes, I have these all in my collection (although, in the case of the Saint John's Bible, it is merely the facsimile edition published by Liturgical Press.)